Product Reviews

Find out what our experts say on a wide range of fitness products on the market – from popular workout programs to DVDs, books, smartphone applications, equipment and apparel. Insight from health care professionals, exercise physiologists, registered dietitians, fitness professionals and industry experts can help you make informed decisions about what products you rely on.

Eat Move Sleep is an easy-to-read book advocating for the interconnectedness between healthy eating, physical activity and sound sleeping. Author Tom Rath builds his thesis by combining extensive research with his personal experiences of overcoming obstacles and struggles that affected his health. Eat Move Sleep: How Small Choices Lead to Big Changes by Tom Rath product review

The Mio Active provides a strapless, heart-rate monitoring watch with a variety of heart-rate zone tools to maximize your workouts without the use of a bulky, uncomfortable chest strap.Mio Active product review

The Basis fitness watch blends style and substance with the combination of a motion tracker and real-time heart-rate monitor which serves as a tracking tool to help individuals make healthier choices.Basis product review

Element’s Yoga for Energy & Relaxation offers two distinct workouts suitable for all fitness levels that will either energize or increase relaxation. The poses in the energizing workout are not difficult, but they are challenging because of the length of time each pose is held. The relaxation workout focuses on deep breathing and seated/lying poses, which makes it ideal for reducing stress, particularly before bedtime.Yoga For Energy & Relaxation product review

Weelicious is full of delicious, easy-to-prepare recipes that appeal to the whole family. On each page, Weelicious exemplifies its wonderful mission to encourage and support families to cook more at home, and prepare just one meal for the whole family (rather than cater to picky eaters).Weelicious by Catherine McCord product review

Zen*Ga Power & Strength features a blend of yoga, dance and Stott Pilates that will appeal to those who enjoy ballet- and bar-based workouts. Dynamic balance, in particular, is challenged in this total-body workout.Zen*Ga Power & Strength product review

Frumpy to Fabulous is a slim volume of healthy tips and changes people can make to help them lose weight and live more healthfully over the course of one year. Although much of the advice is sound and potentially helpful, little information is given on how to make these changes—and stick with them over time. Additionally, the author makes some recommendations based on theories that are not currently supported by science. Frumpy to Fabulous: One Change a Week To a Healthier You! product review

Coregeous is a challenging workout that focuses on improving biomechanics, stability and mobility to the tissues and structures of the core. The instructor is extremely knowledgeable and the instruction is detailed and easy to follow, although it should be noted that additional equipment is required to adequately perform all the exercises. Coregeous product review

Fitness expert Lawrence Biscontini brings his passion and knowledge to this alphabet-based book on how to achieve greater health and wellness. Covering a wide range of topics, including hiring a trainer, spot reducing and supplements, The ABCs of Fitness is a great primer for anyone looking to learn more about how to live healthfully.The ABCs of Fitness: An Alphabet Guide to Wellness product review

It’s not often that a new diet book comes along that actually delivers sensible, realistic advice for losing weight. This is the strength of Lose it Fast, Lose it Forever, a sensible, step-wise approach to losing weight that skips the gimmicks and provides a roadmap for healthier living. Lose it Fast, Lose it Forever: A 4-Step Permanent Weight Loss Plan from the Most Successful "Biggest Loser" of All Time product review

The Stress Away Strap is an inexpensive and easy-to-use exercise device that facilitates stretching and strengthening exercises. Although many of the exercises can be done without the Strap, this product will appeal to those who prefer to use equipment while exercising.Stress Away Strap product review

Nicole Glor’s The Slimnastics Workout book and DVD is a fun and challenging at-home workout that will appeal to those who love yoga, but who also want the added benefits of cardio intervals. As Glor herself points out, this is not a workout for beginners and should only be attempted by those with a strong base of fitness.The Slimnastics Workout book and DVD product review

Rodney Yee’s Power Up Yoga features a combination of cardio and strength-focused practices designed to increase overall fitness level. This 60-minute DVD is divided into three 20-minute sections: Connect (to build strength and muscle tone in the lower body) Energize (to burn calories and increase flexibility) and Breathe (to enhance well being). Rodney Yee's Power Up Yoga product review

For the uninitiated, kettlebell training can seem intimidating and possibly even dangerous. The 5-DVD set Skogg System helps demystify kettlebell training by offering a progressive program that will appeal to beginning and advanced exercisers alike. Skogg System product review

Your specific approach to half-marathon training will depend on multiple variables: the time available to train, running background (novice vs. experienced runner), current fitness level and mileage, willingness to commit to a training plan and ability to learn to listen to your body.

A classic eight-year study of 13,000 people conducted at the Institute for Aerobics Research under the direction of Dr. Steven Blair found that those who walked the equivalent of 30 minutes a day had a significantly lower risk of premature death than those who rarely exercised.